That’s the Stonewall.
The Stonewall Inn.
Pay attention.
History walks through that door.
In 1969 being gay in the United States was a criminal offense. It meant living a closeted life or surviving on the fringes of society. People went to jail, lost jobs, and were disowned by their families for being gay. Most doctors considered homosexuality a mental illness. There were few safe havens. The Stonewall Inn, a Mafia-run, filthy, overpriced bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village, was one of them.
Police raids on gay bars happened regularly in this era. But one hot June night, when cops pounded on the door of the Stonewall, almost nothing went as planned. Tensions were high. The crowd refused to go away. Anger and frustration boiled over.
The raid became a riot.
The riot became a catalyst.
The catalyst triggered an explosive demand for gay rights.
Ann Bausum’s riveting exploration of the Stonewall Riots and the national Gay Rights movement that followed is eye-opening, unflinching, and inspiring.
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“Do not read this book unless you want to learn about the oppression of gays and lesbians, discriminatory laws, and police who abuse their power. Do not read this book unless you want to read about the pent-up anger that ignited the Stonewall riots in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. Do not read this book unless you want to be swept away by the gay revolution that ultimately led to a strong, political, cohesive community. Ann Bausum gives us a gripping account of the Stonewall riots in this authoritative narrative.”
— Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Sibert medalist and Newbery Honor–winning author
“A powerful and moving account…[in] Bausum’s conversational storytelling.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Bausum paints a vivid picture of the three nights of rioting that became the focal point for activists…[then] bringing readers to the present day and expertly putting these struggles into historical context. Verdict: An essential purchase.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)“Readers…will be astonished to return to a time when it was a crime for a man to wear a dress. Enlightening, inspiring, and moving.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Bausum writes with the precision of a journalist…The resulting narrative integrity makes her observations and her conclusions about the persecution and resilience of the LGBTQ community all the more powerful.”
— Hornbook (starred review)“Comprehensive in its coverage, filled with important information, and compassionate in its tone. It sheds welcome light on a subject that deserves greater coverage in YA literature.”
— Booklist“Lifts Stonewall from its customary footnote or chapter status into the YA book-length treatment it deserves.”
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books“The writing is concise and clear, with a narrative style that is both compelling and passionate…This important book by an award-winning author is an essential purchase.”
— VOYA“Tim Federle’s narration wrings all the emotion from this gripping history. With vocal intensity that is by turns fearful, angry, or touching, Federle takes listeners on this affecting journey through a shameful part of our national story that, while improved, still leaves much to be desired. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile“Told with skill and humanity, this story of the Stonewall uprising and its aftermath adds an important piece to the annals of social justice history in young adult literature.”
— Sue Macy, award-winning author of Wheels of Change“Stonewall tells an important story, and does it with style and passion—my favorite kind of nonfiction.”
— Steve Sheinkin, National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor–winning author“A driving beat pulses throughout Stonewall, propelling the narrative forward. Bausum masterfully grounds readers in historical context while dropping them right in the heart—and the heat—of the moment.”
— Tanya Lee Stone, Sibert medalist and NAACP Image Award–winning authorBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Ann Bausum writes books about US history for youth and adults, most dealing with social justice issues. Her books have won the Carter G. Woodson Book Award, the Golden Kite Award, a Sibert Honor designation, and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award.
Tim Federle is a former Broadway dancer turned award-winning writer whose works include the bestselling cocktail recipe books Tequila Mockingbird and Gone with the Gin; the novels Better Nate Than Ever and The Great American Whatever, each named New York Times Notable Books; and the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Tuck Everlasting.